Sports

2014 Winter Olympics: Five Must-See Events

February 06, 2014

Photograph by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images

Ayumu Hirano of Japan competes in Wanaka, New Zealand, on Aug. 24, 2013

Luge Team RelayIt’s as crazy as it sounds. The relay includes a man, a woman, and a duo reaching more than 80 mph on ice. Shenanigans abound: missed handoffs, disqualifications, and other human errors.Tune in on Feb. 13 at 2:05 a.m. EST on NBC

Men’s HalfpipeDon’t miss 15-year-old Ayumu Hirano of Japan, Shaun White’s main competition in the halfpipe. At 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds, he’s spent the last year nipping at White’s heels by flawlessly launching himself 24 feet out of the pipe. See him spin on Feb. 11, starting at 8 p.m. on NBC

Women’s Ski JumpingWatch Lindsey Van take flight in women’s ski jumping, a new event in the games this year. Van, the leading gold contender, spent a decade lobbying for the sport’s Olympic inclusion.Van’s live on Feb. 11, starting at 1:30 p.m. on NBCSN or on prime-time replay starting at 8 p.m. on NBC

Women’s SlalomPrepare to see NBC devote a lot of time to Mikaela Shiffrin, America’s greatest hope in alpine skiing. The 18-year-old holds world championship and World Cup titles in the slalom. Her family attributes her sense of balance to teaching her to simultaneously ride a unicycle and juggle as a child.Shiffrin’s best event, slalom, happens on Feb. 21, starting at 8 p.m. on NBC

SlopestyleSkiers jump and twist through courses, earning points for the highest jumps and trick difficulty. The sport, new to the games this year, is a surefire crowd-pleaser—NBC is broadcasting the trials the day before the opening ceremonies even begin.Finals will air on Feb. 8 and 9, starting at 8 p.m. on NBC